AAP candidate Padmamma M.V. on Tuesday promised to work towards the protection of women and open a single-window centre in Mysore and Kodagu to address the problems of women in distress.
Ms. Padmamma, a retired bank officer, will file her nomination papers to contest from Mysore on Wednesday. She told presspersons here that the AAP had already proved that it could give transparent governance, and promised to bring in accountability if voted to power. Confident in her abilities, Ms. Padmamma, whose agenda is corruption-free governance, said she would strive to bring benefits to the doorsteps of people in the constituency and respond to people’s problems as quickly as possible, putting an end to the “VIP culture.”
She added that the AAP would prioritise education and health, besides addressing the problems of tobacco growers in Mysore and coffee growers in Kodagu. Ms. Padmamma’s other priorities include: getting feedback from people in Mysore on projects being implemented under JNNURM here; the constitution of a citizens’ committee to ensure public participation for increasing the effectiveness of projects; and improving the collection and disposal of solid waste in Mysore and Kodagu.
AAP’s district convener M.S. Vinod said people could walk into the party office on Kalidasa Road here and take up responsibility for the success of the party candidate. “Besides votes, we are also asking for money to cover election expenses, as we fight the polls purely using public donations,” he said.
AAP Kodagu convener Thimmaiah said the party had done much in Kodagu in one year, while leaders belonging to national parties had not.
AAP’s media coordinator Vidyaranya argued that the party was not after power; it wanted to fulfil its vision to empower people and change the system for the benefit of the common people. “The AAP cap is seen as a weapon for fighting corruption and injustice in the society. People are looking for change, and we are here to bring that change,” he said.
Later, Ms. Padmamma, accompanied by AAP leaders and volunteers, went on a campaign here.